Ableton problem- static from speakers

[Currrls]

Hi all, first post here. Tried to post it on the ableton forum but they've changed it around and i can't work out how to post a question anymore :s

Just today I've started having a problem with ableton. I can listen to music on youtube/soundcloud etc. no problem but as soon as I open up ableton I get tones of static coming through the speakers and when I play any of the tracks I've written or play a soft synth the sound is completely distorted.

I'm running my sound through an external USB soundcard into a stereo and out the stereo speakers.

Any one have any idea what the problem could be?

Currrls

---------- Post added at 10:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 AM ----------

Ok just done some more tests, its all very strange. Ableton plays sound through the laptop speakers no problem. It's just when I try to use the external sound card.

When Ableton is open, music from youtube etc is completely ruined by a huge wall of static that only starts when i press play.

---------- Post added at 10:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:26 AM ----------

OK. I've fixed it by lowering the in/out sample rate option to 3200. Why is that the case? Is there anything I can do to allow myself to work at a higher bitrate?

[tcole2004]

what external sound card are you using?

[Currrls]

Lexicon Alpha

---------- Post added 07-28-2012 at 09:39 PM ---------- Previous post was 07-26-2012 at 12:26 PM ----------

any help anyone? the question is basically why my external soundcard will only work when the sample rate is set at 3200 or below

[bandcoach]

is that the sample rate or the buffer size - if the latter then smaller is better

[Currrls]

It says in/out sample rate

[bandcoach]

mac/pc??

do you have the latest drivers for the interface

[Currrls]

pc and yeah I have latest drivers

[bandcoach]

do you even try to adjust the buffers so that you use less CPU; this will mean higher sample rates are possible and less distortion will be introduced when listening back to system generated/rendered audio. You may also wish to consider whether your problem has something to do with a OS wide problem rather than ableton